The coalition statement is a huge gamble

The four countries made their position clear following a meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) foreign ministers.

It is the first time the members of the coalition have said what would happen if the new Iraqi government told them to pull out their troops.

But US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he did not think that prospect at all likely.

"I'm not losing any sleep over it," he said.

But he added that US would withdraw its soldiers if requested to do so.

'Huge gamble'

After Mr Powell spoke, his G8 counterparts - who are attending a meeting in Washington - made similar declarations.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said his country did "not intend to remain at all against the wishes" of the future interim government.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, for his part, reiterated comments made to a BBC News Online forum on Wednesday that the new government would have the final say on whether troops stayed.

"Were they to ask us to leave, we would leave," he said.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Washington says one effect of the statements could be to increase the credibility of whatever Iraqi government takes over after the handover of sovereignty on 1 July.

But, our correspondent adds, it is also a huge gamble, opening the new government to pressure from those in Iraq who want international forces out of their country.